The Unity Care Transcultural Engagement Model

Located in San Jose, California, Unity Care works with foster children, at-risk youth, and their families with the goal of providing a clear path to a better future. Unity Care offers its services to a variety of youth and families throughout Northern California. The program’s diversity is made possible through a unique transcultural engagement model.

In an ideal world, a single engagement model could be used for all children. In reality, of course, every child is different. At times, children’s specific needs may be a product of their cultural background, which can prove challenging to professionals with little knowledge or understanding of the culture in question. With this in mind, a transcultural engagement model is the best way to effectively impact ethnically diverse families and communities.

Transcultural engagement begins with extensive employee training, during which employees are exposed to and educated on cultural perspectives that differ from their own. Additional areas of focus include appreciation of the differences between cultures and insight into the various learning orientations associated with each. Employees who complete transcultural engagement training are prepared to offer Unity Care services with significantly enhanced cultural proficiency to better serve our ethnically diverse communities.

eBay’s Days of Color Campaign Contributes to Nonprofit for Children

Since 1993, Unity Care has offered services that include housing and education to youth in underserved communities of Northern California. Recently, Unity Care was selected as the Bay Area designated nonprofit for the region’s eBay Days of Color campaign. 

eBay’s Days of Color campaign supports the work of charitable organizations around the world. Throughout the month-long campaign, eBay’s employees sold, bought, and donated goods through the company’s online platform in support of select nonprofit partners. 

In September 2017, Bay Area eBay staff sold items on eBay and donated proceeds to fund Unity Care’s programs for foster youth. The ecommerce site’s staff also bought items on the nonprofit’s wish list such as bedding, laptops, and housewares and took part in volunteer events such as the Beautification Day of Service on September 29. On that day, eBay staff contributed toward the renovation of the nonprofit’s new South San Francisco house. Renovations included landscaping, new paint, and improvements to the decor.